Handle lock for tools



Aug. 12, 1947. E* Q NEAL I HANDLE LOCK FOR TooLs Filed Jan. 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. l2, 1947. E. C. NEAL HANDLE Lock FOR TooLs Fled Jan. 5l, 1944 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a device for maintaining a tool head on its handle, and more particularly to a spring clip for securing a tool head, such as a pick axe, a foot adze, a spike maul, a mattock, a grub hoe, and other devices of similar character, and a handle therefor, together in cooperative relation. Tools of the character dealt with herein may be designated collectively as striking tools, the same being adapted for manual operation in striking impact blows of substantial force upon a workpiece or material. To that end, tools of the class mentioned comprise a relatively heavy striking head carried at the end of a grasping handle, said end being frictionally or wedgingly fitted in a socket which opens through the head.

An object of this invention is to provide compact, safe, simple, efficient and readily applied means for maintaining a tool head of the character stated on its handle in cooperative relation therewith, thus preventing inconvenience and injury incident to a tool heads flying o-ii its handle in use, as the result of wear of associated parts.

A further object of the invention includes the provision of a metal clip which may be manually sprung upon adjacent portions of a tool head and its handle to maintain the too-1 head and the handle together in cooperative relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for securing together in cooperative relation a tool head having an opening extending therethrough and a handle having an end po-rtion received in the opening for frictional engagement with adjacent surfaces of the tool head including -a spring collar or yoke having circumferentially spaced end portions and an angulated extension forming a holding lug arranged in angular spaced relation with the spaced end portions so that the collar may be manually sprung upon portions of the tool head, or upon the handle, as the case may be, with a surface of the extension abutting a surface of the other member, that is, the handle, or the tool head, so as to prevent relativel displacement of the tool head and the handle, and, in cases where a shim or wedge is used to take up wear of the handle, to maintain the shim or wedge in position.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of novel means in a device of .the character stated to facilitate the manual application of such a device to a tool head and handle assembly. Additional objects, advantages and capabilities inherent in the invention will become readily apparent from the description thereof which follows.

This invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modication and change without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention applied to a pick axe and handle assembly;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the device shown in Fig. 1 in normal arrangement, prior to the application of the device to a tool head and handle assembly;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3 3, with displaced position of the parts as applied to a tool head and handle assembly indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device looking to the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side View of a modified form of the invention as applied to a foot adze;

Fig. 8 is an end view, looking to the left in Fig, '7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 7 in normal arrangement;

Fig. 10 is a side View of a modiiied form of the invention as applied to a spike maul;

Fig. 11 is a sectional View along the line I I-II of Fig. 10.

The .particular device herein disclosed for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a clip I5 of spring metal including a collar or yoke portion I6 having circumferentially spaced end portions I'I and I8 and an angulated extension I9 arranged in angular spaced relation with the end portions I'I and I8. The extension I9 has an inturned, transversely extending portion 20, forming a preferably integr al lug.

The clip I5 may 'be applied to a pick axe and handle assembly as shown in Fig. 1. In such an assembly the tool head or pick axe 2I is usually provided with a neck portion 22 and a tapering opening 23 extending therethrough. A handle 24, usually of wood, has a correspondingly tapered end portion 25 which is received in the opening 23, the parts usually being forced into frictional engagement in closely interftting relation t-urned edge 35.

With an end portion 26 of the handle .protruding vbeyond the opening.

Use of the tool usually results in wear of the handle reducing its surface within the opening and permitting interplay between the Darts with a resulting tendency of the tool head to become displaced or to slip along the handle. This displacement or slipping `can -be averted temporarily by driving a shim or wedge into the end of the handle adjacent the ltool head but with further use the shim or wedge tends to slip out. `Such slipping of the shim or Wedge and the tool handle can be effectively averted by applying a clip lA to the assembly. This is done by manually springing the end portions l1 and I8 apart so that the collar portion l5 will embrace and grippingly engage the outer surface ofthe neck portion 22 of the tool head and the portionv 2t of the angulated extension I9 will abut the end' surface 21 of the handle and the corresponding surface of the shim or wedge, if one be used.

In order toY facilitate the application of the clip i5 toa tool head assembly, a portion of increased thickness or external bead 28 .may loe provided onthe end` portion il of the clip in spaced relation with the edge 29 thereof to enable the clip to be hammered into position. Y

The clip lifmay be made of spring metal of suitablel thickness, depending on the size and weight of the tool head, a thickness of inch or inch ordinarily being adequate. The collar portion IB is preferably tapered to conform with the adjacent surface of the tool head or handle as the case may be. The conformation and arrangement of they partsof the clip are such that the clip willV operate to secure the tool head and handle, including a Vshim or wedge if used, together in cooperative relation notwithstanding additional wear and resulting interplay 'between the handlev and tool head, as the spring quality of the metal will act to cause the clipto conform to the reduced dimensions of the associated parts.

In a I.modiedform of the invention, a metal clip 30 shown in Figs. 7, 8 :and 9, as applied to afoot adze 3l and handle 32 assembly, has a collar portion 33, which is generally rectangular in form in` contrast Withthe generally elliptical form I6 shown in Figs 2 and 3, and end portions 3'4 and 35; which are substantially alike inv conguration and dimensions, each having an in- This arrangement is necessary due to the generally rectangular sectional congurationv of the adjacent portionsof the foot adze 3| and handle' 32. The spacing of the endzporltions 3% andv 35 and the edges 3B is; such that the collar Iportion may be sprung into position vin gripping relation, with thel adjacent surface of the neck 37. As in thecase of the collar portion I6 of the clip I5', the collar portion 33 is tapered tor conformv with the' tapering neck portion 37 ofthe ad'ze 3l. The angulatedY extension 38 and inturned transversely' extending portion 39 are arranged to operate inrelation to the end surface `IMJ' of the handle in a .ma-nner' similar to that of the corresponding portions of the clip S5.

In another modifiedr formv of the invention shown in Figs. l0 and l1 as applied to a spike 'mai-il, in 'which the opening il in the head d2 andV the portion 43 of the handle le Vreceived in the opening'taper in a direction opposite toY that of the direction of the taper of the corre-Y sponding parts in Figs, l to 8 inclusive, the clip 44 is providedk with a collar portion Yarranged to grip an adjacent portion ofthe handle and the inturned, transversely extending portion 45 of the angulated extension 46 is arranged to abut an adjacent surface 41' of the head. A wedge 48 may be inserted in the handle (Fig. .10).

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed: asI follows:

l. A tool head clip for securing a handle, hav ing a shank providing a grasping end and a head mounting end, to a striking tool head, having an openingtherethrough for receiving said mounting end, whereby to form a tool assemblyhaving a clip mounting portion at the mounting end of said shank, said clip comprising resilient means forming a collar adapted to contractingly embrace said clip mounting portion, said collar having a lateral opening therein and being eX- pansible to permit said clip mounting portion to enter thecollar throughsaid lateral openingV inv mounting the clip on saidmounting' portion',.and an offset holding. lug on said collarl in. position to overlie the shaft remote side of the tool head and the end of the handle exposed at said remote side.

2. The combination, Witllra.V hand strikingtool comprising a handle part forming' a shank having a grasping and a head.mountingend', anda tool head part having a handle receiving'open-f ingA therethrough and snugly receiving the mounting end of said handle part, whereby the head part is secured Yon-the ,handle part, one of said parts forming a clip seat adjacentH the mounting end and tapering toward the grasping .Y

man

tapered collarhaving. a lateral opening, therein ing a grasping end and a heady mounting end,

yand a tool head part having a handle. receiving opening therethrough and snugly receiving the mounting end of said. handleV part; whereby the head part is secured on the handlepart,V said head part having a neck' on one side thereof embracing the mounting endA` of. said shank and forming a clip seat tapering toward the'gra'sping end of said shank, of a tool clip' onsaid clip' seat, said clip comprising resilient meansV forming a; tapered collar having a lateral opening therein and contractingly and wedgingly` em'- bracing said tapered clip seat and urged thereon by the resiliencel of the clip, in! a direction to'- ward the grasping end of the handle'part, and

an offset holding lug on said collar extending in position overlying the' handle opening atthe n shaft remote side of the tool head and the mount-Y ing end of the handle part exposedatisaid'remote side. i'

' 4. The combination, withV arhand -strikin'gft'ool a tool' head part having' a handle receivingfopen'- ingV tlfierethrou'ghl Y and"Y snugly 'receivingzjfthe mounting end of said handle part, whereby the head part is secured on the handle part, one of said parts forming a clip seat adjacent the mounting end, of a tool clip on said clip seat,

said clip comprising resilient means forming 5 a collar having a lateral opening therethrough andcontractingly and Wedgingly embracing said clip seat and urged thereon, by the resilience of the clip, in a direction toward the grasping end of the handle part, and an offset holding lug on said collar extending in position overlying the handle opening at the shaft remote side of the tool head and the mounting end of the handle part exposed at said remote side.

ERNEST C. NEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Martin Feb. 3, 1891 Stowe Nov. 23, 1926 Jackson July 2, 1940 Thomason Nov. 7, 1916 Harvey Mar. 2, 1926 Collins Nov. 2, 1920 Rush Oct. 9, 1906 Kimberly Sept. 5, 1933 Van Dyke Jan. 17, 1939 Holik Feb, 16, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Jan. ,12, 1891 

